Originally Posted by Helena
OOPS! I guess I used the term "long arm" incorrectly. I meant the machines that have a longer center opening from the needle to the other side of the machine. The older Berninas width in the center is only 7". The newer machines have a much wider opening.
If all you're doing is baby quilts, you may like the Bernina for that. I have a Janome and a Bernina. Both are about 13 years old and were top of the line in their day. The Janome is not good at free motion quilting, but the Bernina is excellent at it. If you're going to be doing small quilts, you will really like the Bernina for sewing and quilting. If you want to do bigger quilts, you might like a machine with a bigger harp (that's the opening in the area from the right of the needle to the machine).
See if you can try out the machines first to tell which one you are more comfortable using.
Good luck! :thumbup: